Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-22

"Ten days anyhow, mebbe two weeks. u
he answered. 1.-THE wilder I'll expect me 10
settle up his affairs, more or less"
| Ted looked at Nan with grimace of un-
utterable delight; if the father had seen it,
it is doubtful whether duty even could have
urged him from home, certainly not without
administering spanking all round
'Get my things ready as soon as you cam
he resumed, ''for want to catch the three
o'clock train, sure, and you, Ted, get the
boss harnessed sO'st to take me to the
| depot"
''Yess'r," replied Ted; no danger but
that Ted would do his share, and be on time,
too.
Nan was on hand, like Jacl-in-the- box,
| to spring at every call. and bring the soap
and the towel, the blacking-brush and whisk
broom, for Joseph Rexford loved to be
waited on, and his toilet for journey, long
or short, was the signal for a series Of
gymnastics, participated in by the whole
family.
Halfpast two came, and Doll was at the
door, and Ted, with a very unbecoming
shade OF happiness on his cOuntenance, held
the reinS.
you'll want some money, s'pose!' said
Mr.. Rexford, graciously, for him, as he
drew on his overcoat. There's five dol
lars" and he passed the precious rnorsel
out from roll of greenbacks, gingerly; he
was not poor man, by any means, and
could have given her twenty-five just as
easily.
ayes, Joseph" she replied, meekly, as
she tucked away the bill; she did not intend
he should ever see it again, or an exhaust
i've report of tho uses made of it, either
"Wall, goodbye, Janc,'' Che drew on his
gloves) "don't let the young ones run over
you while I'm gone.''
mo, Joseph" she replied, demurely,
with an inward smile.
He went out; there was no silly demon
stration of affection ut parting. A kiss from
those stern lips would have been an aston
ishment that the family would not have re-
covered from in q week, end, getting into
the waiting sleigh, old Doll moved away
Nan turned a somersault; she was q fine,
loving child, and would have been as happy
as q lark, under favorable circumstances.
"Oh, goody, goOdy, goody!" she ex-
claimed, in glad sOliloquy.
"Hush, Nannie,' said the mother. re-
provingly, though in her secret heart she
could not blanc the child for the ebullition.
Ted returned in due time, and the de-
parture was an assured thing, and the boy
already held up his head with an accession
Of self-respect, as he took his place as man
of the house. One week was only short
time to plan in. but judicious effort can ac-
complish much in even . weeks time, and |
Mrs. RexfOrd's plans were chiefly in the |
line of q merry-making, such q one as they |
had never been allowed to have
Her first move was a letter to a sister.
living twenty miles away, with an invitation |
to spend Christmas.
A visit from Aunt Nan was a rare treat
to the children at any time, one which they
rarely enjoyed, however, for Aunt Nan and
Joseph Rexford were not congenial spirits,
she not being able to bottle up her indignant
wrath when he exercised his peculiar gift
of government in her presence; he not
her ''neddlin','' as he designated
her rather free use Of her tongue on occa-
sions, and so she wisely concluded that it
was best to see As little Of the domestic
as possible, and kept away, to Mrs.
Rexford's mingled grief and relief
Teddy's heart, in the meantime, was filed
with great longing; he wanted to make
the patient little mother, whom he loved
with tender, chivalrous devotion, . Christ
mas present.
In the thirteen years Of his life he had no
Of her receiving Christmas
Rift, and he was in brown study the great
er part of his time, planning and contriving
some way to surprise her with . present,
but a. yet no way had opened.
.Hafness Doll, Teddy, and we'n 90 70 the
village today said the mother one morn
|uR. Teddy smiled knowingly - he hurried
gWnv q obey her request, and In short {
(ime they were on their way. snow you
mustn,t follow mo around," she said, with .
VmiIe. = tAsy neared tho village; Ted an
uvpred her with knowing, yet longing. !
- ~ yu,ntad 70 ~ her foe . u Ct I